The WAMA Crosstown Jam, the organization's annual area-wide music showcase and charity fundraiser, will be held June 14-20, 1998. Each year more than 150 artists from diverse genres of music perform at venues in the Washington area. The artists volunteer their services and the clubs donate the admissions. Fifty percent of the net is donated to Washington-based charities and the balance goes to WAMA. Charities are selected by the WAMA Board with recommendations from the Jam Committee.

The event has been a centerpiece for the association, not only because of its philanthropic character, but because of the spirit of sharing and cooperation demonstrated by Washington's music community. Each year 300 to 400 groups apply to be part of the Jam. Unfortunately, not all of them are selected. Artists are chosen by the Jam Committee based on three main concerns. First, we look for groups that have a following, because the shows need to have an audience to be successful. Second, we try to showcase artists worthy of exposure. Third, the shows must make sense. If you are interested in performing or would like to volunteer to work on the Jam Committee, leave a message on WAMA voice mail at 202-338-1134, or send E-mail to dcmusic@wamadc.com .

Kennedys Sign to Rounder

Pete and Maura Kennedy have signed with Rounder Records. The Reston, VA based folk-rock duo finalized arrangements with Ken Irwin and John Virant of the Cambridge, MA based label while in Memphis at the Folk Alliance Conference.

Pete and Maura retain ownership of their latest two releases, "River Of Fallen Stars" (1995) and "Life Is Large" (1996), and are hoping to license them, along with other items from their catalog, to Rounder.

The Kennedys are also staying busy on the production front, finalizing details on upcoming releases by Julie Sanderson (on Prime CD) and New York duo, the Wicomicos. Pete and Maura recently paused in their studio efforts long enough to accept appointments as artist in residence at Manhattanville College in New York, and The Kennedy Center For The Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. To top things off, Pete was recently elected to the board of governors of the new Washington NARAS Branch (National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences). "Angel Fire", The Kennedys' first CD for Rounder, is expected in stores in July.

Local Notes

Membership Tops 1000

• WAMA membership reached an all time high of 1015 members during the month of March 1998.
• Hot rocker Michael Sheppard recently performed at the 9:30 Club on behalf of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and rumor has it the band won Second Place. Unfortunately, while Sheppard was inside doing his part for the community, his van was stolen from outside the club. The band had already unloaded their equipment but Sheppard's tour book, a compilation of 20 years worth of phone numbers and contacts, was inside the van when it was stolen. The van is a 1990 maroon Chevy Conversion van, with tan metallic stripes.
• Jean Ritchie , Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter , and the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress were honored with Lifetime Achievement Awards by the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance (Folk Alliance). They were presented with the awards on February 12 in Memphis, TN during the 10th Anniversary Conference of the Folk Alliance.
• Jordan Musen , the President of SAW (Songwriters' Association of Washington) recently bid adieu to SAW and the Washington area to move to greener pastures in California. We wish him good luck and good wishes. Tami Lack is now completing Musen's term as the Interim President of SAW.
• The Emptys rocked Iota in Arlington, VA with a live performance recorded for a live CD.
• The WAMA DCCD 7 jacket design recently won a Gold Award in the Exceptional Design category at the One-Of-A-Kind Design Competition sponsored by The Production Club of Washington .
• Tom Prasada-Rao 's CD, Hear You Laughing , received the Best Indie CD for 1997 award from the Kerrville Music Foundation . Hear You Laughing , recorded at ESM Productions in Herndon, VA, can be ordered through Ahimsa Music at 301-431-1088 or through ISG Records, 1-888-925-5985.
• Bill Parsons song, Silent One , has been picked up by the Bose Corporation for use over its sound systems throughout its North American stores.
• Modern Yesterday has returned home from LA where they finished recording their new CD.
• Dead Girls and Other Stories recently played the Black Cat and won an appearance at the Horde Festival this summer. For more information, check out the Dead Girls website at http://myhouse.com/kitchen/deadgirls .
• Local swing/blues artists Colleen Shanley and Casey O'Neal backed country star Cleve Francis at The Birchmere in April. Shanley and O'Neal opened with some of Shanley's original music. Other band members supporting Francis include Eddie Jones and the Young Bucks , DaveyYarborough , Gary Green , Alex and Andrew Fowler , and Larry Boddie .
• Jill Strachan was named as SAW (Songwriters' Association of Washington) new Marketing Director. General Manager of the Lesbian & Gay Chorus of Washington, DC, Strachan has worked with many non-profit organizations.
• Dennis Brailey of Story Eyes Productions made arrangements for vocalist Karla Brown (who sang background for Crystal Waters 1997 CD) to appear on It's Showtime At The Apollo .
• Local artists and labels: With your help, Listen Up can be devoted entirely to local and regional music. Please send your new releases (all genres welcome) to Lou King , c/o The Journal Newspapers , Tempo, 2720 Prosperity Ave., Fairfax, VA 22034-1019.
• Chris Alastair won the young-songwriter award sponsored by the National Academy of Popular Music (NAPM). The awards ceremony was held in New York City.
• Jennifer Cutting was awarded the 1997 Individual Artist Award in Composition from the Maryland Arts Council.
• Britt Prentice was featured on Fox Morning News in an interview and he sang songs from his CD.
• The Nighthawks celebrated their 25th anniversary with a performance at the Barns of Wolf Trap in February.
• The glamorous bandleader Peaches O'Dell recently broke the attendance record and the Glen Echo Ballroom , and in the same week, sold out a show at The Black Cat .
• Buzz McClain , formerly of The Journal Newspapers and The Washington Times, has relocated to Dallas, TX and is now writing for The Met magazine, a Dallas weekly. He would like any country, roots and rockabilly bands from this area to know that he will advance their show and/or CD for any appearances in that area in his column, The Honky-Tonk Man.
• Ruthie & The Wranglers ' recording of Paper Roses hit No. 1 at BRTO Radio in Holland in January. Also on the BRTO charts at No. 4 is Guitar Billy , by Bill Mott . Both songs were recorded at Hit And Run Recording .
• Marge Calhoun recently toured with Jimmy Dale Gilmore , opening his Mid-Atlantic shows.
• Steven Gellman 's CD, Photobook , was nominated for the Best Debut Album of the Year by the 2nd Annual Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA).

Babies, Babies Everywhere!

• Michael Sheppard Group bassist Chris Neubauer and his wife Cathy welcomed their new son, Joseph Christopher Neubauer , on February 20, 1998 at 12:17 p.m. Weighing in at 7 lbs, 10 oz, Joseph Christopher and his parents are doing fine.
• Singer/songwriter and former SAW Board member Pam Steinfeld and her husband Rick Dagen welcomed new son Scott Henry Dagen on February 13, 1998. Little Scotty was born at 12:53 p.m., weighing in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces, and was 20 inches long. Mom states that he has dark hair and looks like Rick's side of the family.

Club Notes

Bayou renovation

Cellar Door Productions, the leading concert promotion company in our region, has begun a major refurbishing of its Georgetown nightclub, The Bayou. New sound, light and video systems are in being installed. Also expect to see a rebuilding of the bars and kitchen facilities.

Shirlington Artists Guild

The Shirlington Artists Guild closed its doors on February 18; the lease expired, and the planned move across the street fell through. They are going to continue their monthly coffeehouse concert series at the Georgetown Art Guild, 1054 31st Street, N.W., Washington, DC (in Canal Square, next door to Sea Catch Restaurant). The phone number is 202-625-1470.

Spanish Ballroom Theatened

As you may know, the Washington Swing Dance Committee has been very active in supporting great Washington musicians like Daryl Davis, The Nighthawks, Deanna Bogart, Cathy Ponton King, Big Joe and the Dynaflows, Tom Principato, and many others by providing a venue that brings their music to audiences who might otherwise not have access to them.

The Committee has been doing this for about 12 years. Over the last few months, attendance has grown from 400-500 dancers to 800+ dancers at every dance. Between 200-300 of these new dancers are high school and college students. All of the dances are held at the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park, owned and currently managed by the National Park Service.

The National Park Service is in the process of developing a long-term management plan that could destroy the Spanish Ballroom in Glen Echo Park, or turn it into exhibit space for private, corporate events. National Campaign to Save Glen Echo Park would like to ensure that it's used for public, social dancing at affordable prices.

You can find more information about the efforts to save the park at National Campaign to Save Glen Echo Park web page at http://w4c.com/glenecho . Public comments are due by September 1, 1998.

WAMA Goes to SXSW

Maria Villafana of Washingtonpost.com with Tim Sweeney author of "Guide to Releasing Independent Records." at the WAMA booth.

Lisa White of the 9:30 Club, dropping by the WAMA co-sponsored Regional Roundup for some music and food.

Bill Kirchen performing at the jam packed Iron Cactus.

Dave Galinsky, manager of Genghis Angus,. hoping to be recognized.

Ruth Logsdon of Ruthie & the Wranglers at the Texicalli Grille for an afternoon brunch and Texas swing.

WAMA Advisory Board member Bill Kitchen at his booth for Shape CD.

Reach the Local Industry with Your Message

WAMA Pages '98, is about to go to the printer. The 80-page directory of the Washington music business is mailed free to all current WAMA members. Is the information in the WAMA database correct? Would you like an advertisement? Do you want additional listings or bold type? Have you given us your emailaddress or your web page URL? Maybe you want a descriptive paragraph with your listing.

All current members get their basic listing free, but there are charges for any additional listings, bold type, and/or descriptive paragraphs. Call WAMA voice mail at 202-338-1134 or E-mail us at dcmusic@wamadc.com.